Artsakh's State Minister Makes Important Observations

Artsakh's State Minister Gurgen Nersisyan has made important remarks on his Facebook page.

“Dear compatriots, Artsakh is going through quite difficult times today. The government of the Republic is continuously working to alleviate the problems faced by the population. Much of this work is done quietly and without fanfare, while there are many issues that cannot be publicly discussed for understandable reasons. This work is taking place amid numerous systemic, staffing, and human quality issues that we rarely talk about.

Yet even under these conditions, there are still individuals preoccupied with empty rhetoric, whose main activity is to sow hatred and animosity towards the state and its institutions, displaying absolute ignorance of state governance and the deeper picture of the situation, the variety and quantity of problems, continually voicing irresponsible and unfounded criticisms of the government to gain false authority, exploiting the emotions of highly stressed citizens for personal or group interests.

Unfortunately, under the burden of these conditions, many such phenomena go unnoticed or unaddressed, which sometimes provides added comfort for some in misleading the public and managing their emotions.

Nevertheless, we wish to make a few observations that are significant for the current situation:

1. During the blockade, in addition to meeting the needs of the 120,000 residents of Artsakh, we have been able to organize harvests surpassing previous years, thanks to the government’s stockpiling of various goods.

2. Thanks to the efforts of the government of the Republic and the residents of our rural communities during the blockade, our citizens are able to receive a minimal amount of food, fruit, and vegetables today.

3. Artsakh is not just Stepanakert; the problems present in the capital are also reflected in the regions.

4. The long queues for bread and other goods are due to the scarcity of available products, mainly caused by the spread of false information instilling panic among the population. The only way to regulate this is to ensure minimum demand, which the government is working on around the clock.

5. The government provides fuel only for harvesting and for organizing the country’s internal activities. No fuel has been or will be provided for any other purpose.

6. Every day, the government is providing support to hundreds of needy families, and this process is continuous. There are days when the number of requests for assistance exceeds a thousand, and home visits are organized for almost all of them.

7. It is completely false that non-essential goods were brought to Artsakh during the humanitarian shipments under the blockade. Moreover, the only fighter against corruption in transporting such goods to Artsakh has been the government and I personally.

Once again, I call on everyone to refrain from attempting to subjectively exploit public sentiment in the current situation; weakening the foundations of the state and statehood in Artsakh are nothing less than a blow from behind, and such phenomena are unacceptable. The essence of state power is not to govern only in the conditions of public satisfaction; the state and officials must be capable of responsible governance even in the face of objective or subjective public discontent, without retreating from difficulties, and without succumbing to emotions.

I urge state bodies and officials to draw conclusions from objective criticisms, but never to heed gossip and emotions. We must fully understand the magnitude of the responsibility placed upon us in this historical phase and work without whining or complaining. Emotions and difficulties should be taken into account, but should never become a condition or basis for governance.

I thank our compatriots who, facing everyday difficulties and having to go through them, continue to display high awareness, do not succumb to anyone's provocations, and serve as an example for others by their presence,” the state minister wrote.